Storms cause severe flooding across Maldives

Torrential rain and thunderstorms across the Maldives have caused heavy flooding in several islands over the past three days.

According to the National Disaster Management Centre, some 15 islands have reported damages from flooding to households and farms. Strong winds also uprooted trees and ripped off roofs in some islands.

The most extensive damages were reported from the island of Thimarafushi in the south-central Thaa atoll.

Adil Ibrahim, a Thaa atoll council member, reported flooding in other islands in the atoll. A tornado hit the island of Veymandoo around 10:30am on Wednesday whilst roads in Hirilandhoo, Kinbidhoo, and Thimarafushi are inundated with up to three feet of water.

“These islands have knee-deep floods. An uprooted breadfruit tree had fallen to a house in Veymandoo while walls had fallen down in another three houses,” he said.

Many household items and furniture were damaged when floodwaters seeped into homes, he added.

“A team from the [NDMC] is currently active in Thimarafushi. The police helped set up sandbags and plywood in homes as a barrier from the water, while the military has been pumping out water since today morning,” he said.